We’ve got your daily encouragement, written by Lindsey Strickler.
Bible Reading:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Word:
We’re not home yet.
From COVID, to racial unrest, to the election, to Cuba, to Afganistan, to Hurricane Ida, to daily life things that happen, it’s been one reminder after another that we’re not in Heaven yet. We’re not with our God, our Father, our King, our Creator, our Comforter, our Healer, yet.
Because of that, it’s so easy for us to carry all of these things I’ve listed out on our shoulders. The pain and discomfort are things we want to be over and the timeline to that is often too short in our minds. So we try and take control to make it less painful, less uncomfortable. We try to ignore what’s going on, we fixate on things we can fix, or we just ruminate on them, obsessively thinking about and actively hating the situation.
But we’ve got to let them go. I don’t mean forget them, or do nothing about them, but instead, allow ourselves to feel the emotions while processing them in light of God’s truths, responding from a place of resting in his truths.
That’s what Matthew is getting at here. He gives us those steps, it’s another AMRAP:
- Take my yoke upon you
- Learn from me
What does it mean to take his yolk upon you? It means to surrender your life to him. It means to embrace your identity as his child and serve him with your life.
How do we learn from him? We read his word, the Bible. We get into community with other believers who can mentor and disciple us.
Why should we approach things this way? Because he is gentle and lowly in heart. Because he knows you better than you know yourself. He made you. He knows that living life this way will lead you to rest for your soul until the day you go Home.
Prayer:
God, I’m not home yet. That reality can be so frustrating. I’m ready for the pain and suffering to be over. Help me be able to surrender to you, to take your yoke upon me. I want to learn from you. I want to walk through this life how you want me to. Show me the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Skillwork:
Spend time reading your Bible on your own. Begin learning from God by learning about God. A great place to start if you don’t know is the book of John. Read a chapter a day. Before you begin, ask God to open your eyes and reveal things to you. Ask him to to help you understand. Then after reading, spend time journaling about what you learned.
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